Participatory assessment of rural livelihoods in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

There is a need for improved monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of participatory research with smallholder farmers, in particular to help differentiate between different types of farm household with different needs. This paper reports some of the results of a study to develop participatory M&E tools for the Forages for Smallholders Project in Southeast Asia, focusing on an upland commune in central Vietnam with a highly diverse crop-livestock system. Participatory rural appraisal techniques were used within a rural livelihoods framework to assess the differing livelihoods of poor, average, and better-off households. There were found to be marked differences between households, particularly in human resources, landholdings, and cattle numbers, affecting the livelihood strategies pursued. The improved understanding of livelihood strategies was gained in a cost-effective way and could be readily used by project participants to monitor the impacts of the introduced forages within the commune, enabling better focusing of the participatory research process on the needs and circumstances of poor farmers. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Unraveling the Na,K-ATPase alpha(4) Subunit Assembling Induced by Large Amounts of C(12)E(8) by Means of Small-Angle X-ray Scattering

In the current work, we studied the effect of the nonionic detergent dodecyloctaethyleneglycol, C(12)E(8), on the structure and oligomeric form of the Na,K-ATPase membrane enzyme (sodium-potassium pump) in aqueous suspension, by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Samples composed of 2 mg/mL of Na,K-ATPase, extracted from rabbit kidney medulla, in the presence of a small amount of C(12)E(8) (0.005 mg/mL) and in larger concentrations ranging from 2.7 to 27 mg/mL did not present catalytic activity. Under this condition, an oligomerization of the alpha subunits is expected. SAXS data were analyzed by means of a global fitting procedure supposing that the scattering is due to two independent contributions: one coming from the enzyme and the other one from C(12)E(8) micelles. In the small detergent content (0.005 mg/mL), the SAXS results evidenced that Na,K-ATPase is associated into aggregates larger than (alpha beta)(2) form. When 2.7 mg/mL of C(12)E(8) is added, the data analysis revealed the presence of alpha(4) aggregates in the solution and some free micelles. Increasing the detergent amount up to 27 mg/mL does not disturb the alpha(4) aggregate: just more micelles of the same size and shape are proportionally formed in solution. We believe that our results shed light on a better understanding of how nonionic detergents induce subunit dissociation and reassembling to minimize the exposure of hydrophobic residues to the aqueous solvent.

Falls prevention in rural general practice: what stands the test of time and where to from here?

Objective: General practitioner recall of the 1992-96 'Stay on Your Feet'(SOYF) program and its influence on practice were surveyed five years post-intervention to gauge sustainability of the SOYF General Practice (GP) component. Methods: A survey assessed which SOYF components were still in existence, current practice related to falls prevention, and interest in professional development. All general practitioners (GPs) situated within the boundaries of a rural Area Health Service were mailed a survey in late 2001. Results: Response rate was 66.5% (139/ 209). Of 117 GPs in practice at the time of SOYF, 80.2% reported having heard of SOYF and 74.4% of those felt it had influenced practice. Half (50.9%) still had a copy of the SOYF GP resource and of those, 58.6% used it at least 'occasionally'. Three-quarters of GPs surveyed (75.2%) checked medications 'most/almost all' of the time with patients over 60 years; 46.7% assessed falls risk factors; 41.3% gave advice; and 22.6% referred to allied health practitioners. GPs indicated a strong interest in falls prevention- related professional development. There was no significant association between use of the SOYF resource package and any of the current falls prevention practices (all chi(2)>0.05). Conclusions and implications: There was high recall of SOYF and a general belief that it influenced practice. There was little indication that use of the resource had any lasting influence on GPs' practices. In future, careful thought needs to go into designing a program that has potential to affect long-term change in GPs' falls prevention practice.

Wet deposition of major ions in a rural area impacted by biomass burning emissions

This work concerns the influence of industrialized agriculture in the tropics on precipitation chemistry. A total of 264 rain events were sampled using a wet-only collector in central Sao Paulo State, Brazil, between January 2003 and July 2007. Electroneutrality balance calculations (considering H(+), K(+), Na(+), NH(4)(+), Ca(2)(+), Mg(2)(+), Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-), F(-), PO(4)(3-), H(3)CCOO(-), HCOO(-), C(2)O(4)(2-) and HCO(3)(-)) showed that there was an excess of cations (similar to 15%), which was attributed to the presence of unmeasured organic anion species originating from biomass burning and biogenic emissions. On average, the three ions NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and H(+) were responsible for >55% of the total ion concentrations in the rainwater samples. Concentrations (except of H(+)) were significantly higher (t-test; P = 0.05), by between two to six-fold depending on species, during the winter sugar cane harvest period, due to the practice of pre-harvest burning of the crop. Principal component analysis showed that three components could explain 88% of the variance for measurements made throughout the year: PC1 (52%, biomass burning and soil dust resuspension); PC2 (26%, secondary aerosols); PC3 (10%, road transport emissions). Differences between harvest and non-harvest periods appeared to be mainly due to an increased relative importance of road transport/industrial emissions during the summer (non-harvest) period. The volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentrations of ammonium (23.4 mu mol L(-1)) and nitrate (17.5 mu mol L(-1)) in rainwater samples collected during the harvest period were similar to those found in rainwater from Sao Paulo city, which emphasizes the importance of including rural agro-industrial emissions in regional-scale atmospheric chemistry and transport models. Since there was evidence of a biomass burning source throughout the year, it appears that rainwater composition will continue to be affected by vegetation fires, even after sugar cane burning is phased out as envisaged by recent Sao Paulo State legislation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fluorescence spectroscopy of small peptides interacting with microheterogeneous micelles

Many peptides containing tryptophan have therapeutic uses and can be studied by their fluorescent properties. The biological activity of these peptides involves interactions with many cellular components and micelles can function as carriers inside organisms. We report results from the interaction of small peptides containing tryptophan with several microheterogeneous systems: sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) micelles; sodium dodecyl sulphate-poly(ethylene oxide) (SDS-PEO) aggregates; and neutral polymeric micelles. We observed that specific parameters, such as wavelength of maximum emission and fluorescence anisotropy, could be used to ascertain the occurrence of interactions. Affinity constants were determined from changes in the intensity of emission while structural modifications in rotameric conformations were verified from time-resolved measurements. Information about the location and diffusion of peptides in the microheterogeneous systems were obtained from tryptophan emission quenching experiments using N-alkylpyridinium ions. The results show the importance of electrostatic and hydrophobic effects, and of the ionization state of charged residues, in the presence of anionic and amphiphilic SDS in the microheterogeneous systems. Conformational stability of peptides is best preserved in the interaction with the neutral polymeric micelles. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Social and psychiatric influences on urban-rural differentials in Australian suicide

The purpose of this study was to investigate urban-rural differentials in Australian suicide rates, and to examine influences that previously have remained largely speculative. Suicide rates for males (all ages and young adults) were significantly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Urban-rural suicide rate differences in males were rendered nonsignificant after adjustment for migrant and area socioeconomic status. Adjusting for mental disorder prevalence, in addition to migrant status, reduced the excess suicide risk in rural areas; the excess was reduced further with addition of mental health service utilization. The implications of this study are that socioeconomic circumstances in rural populations contribute to higher male suicide rates compared to urban areas, but these conditions may be partly mediated by mental disorder prevalence and mental health service utilization.

Weight loss during prolonged lactation in rural Bangladeshi mothers

To determine the duration of lactation which is associated with weight loss in rural Bangladeshi mothers and also to determine the relationship with consumption patterns of principal food items, a cross-sectional study was carried out among 791 lactating rural Bangladeshi mothers aged 18-40 years. Results were compared with 333 non-pregnant and non-lactating mothers of a similar age group. The duration of lactation was up to 60 months. The mean difference in body-weight and body mass index (BMI) of lactating mothers who breastfed their children up to 24 months was significantly lower compared to non-lactating mothers of the same age group, but no differences were observed for those who breastfed beyond 24 months. The frequency of consumption of principal food items was comparable between the non-lactating and the lactating mothers who breastfed beyond 24 months. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that body-weight of mothers was negatively correlated with 1-12 month(s) and 13-24 months of lactation after controlling for height, education, and food consumption (slope -1.04, p < 0.05 and slope -1.23, p < 0.05 respectively). Height and consumption of meat and milk were significantly positively correlated with body-weight (slope 0.53, p < 0.001; slope 1.44, p < 0.001; and slope 0.75, p < 0.05 respectively). The study concluded that Bangladeshi women who breastfed up to 24 months were of lower weight than non-lactating mothers, most likely due to the effect of lactation. These mothers were not taking any additional foods during their lactating period. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that mothers consume additional energy-rich foods during the first 24 months of lactation to prevent weight loss.

Surgical removal of small petroclival meningiomas

Treatment of large petroclival meningiomas causing brain stem compression is surgical removal followed by radiotherapy or radiosurgery if the lesion was partially resected. The management of small petroclival meningiomas is, however, controversial. Clinical observation, radiosurgery and surgical removal are the options of treatment. The natural history of these tumours is not well known. Published series of patients treated with radiosurgery are not comparable with surgical series because the latter also includes large size tumours. In this paper we present a series of 18 patients with small petroclival meningiomas (diameter <= 2.8cm) treated with radical surgical removal. Total resection (Simpson`s Grade 1) [43] was possible with minimal morbidity and no mortality. Background. We present a series of small petroclival meningiomas (SPM) treated by radical surgical removal and compare the outcome with other management modalities proposed for these lesions. Methods. Eighteen patients with SPM were surgically treated at our department of neurological surgery. The tumours were classified as small when they had a diameter < 3.0cm. Headaches (n = 12), diplopia (n = 8), facial hypoaesthesia (n = 3) and tinnitus (n = 6) were the most frequent symptoms at presentation. The approaches used were retrosigmoid (n = 14), fronto-orbito-zygomatic (n = 3) and presigmoid (n = 1). The post-operative follow-up ranged from 1 to 110 months (mean 41.8 months). Findings. Radical tumour resection (Simpson`s Grades 1 and 2) was achieved in all patients. There was no major morbidity or mortality related to the surgical procedure. Transient abducent nerve palsy was the only post-operative complication. The pre-operative cranial nerves deficits improved after surgery. Only one patient had persistent diplopia postoperatively. Conclusion. Radical surgical removal of SPM is possible with minimal morbidity and may cure the patient. The effectiveness and outcome of surgery for small petroclival meningiomas should be compared with series treated by radiosurgery.

Limited ecoclinal variation found in Malva parviflora (small-flowered mallow) across the Mediterranean-climatic agricultural region of Western Australia

Malva parviflora L. populations were collected from 24 locations across the Mediterranean-climatic agricultural region of Western Australia and grown in Perth in a common garden experiment. Seventeen morphometric and taxonomic measurements were taken and genetic variation was investigated by performing principal components analysis (PCA). Taxonomic measurements confirmed that all plants used in the study were M. parviflora. Greater variation occurred within populations than between populations. Separation between populations was only evident between northern and southern populations along principal components 2 (PC2), which was due mainly to flowering time. Flowering time and consequently photoperiod were highly correlated with latitude and regression analysis revealed a close relationship (r(2) = 0.6). Additionally, the pollination system of M. parviflora was examined. Plants were able to self-pollinate without the need for external vectors and the pollen ovule ratio (31 +/- 1.3) revealed that M. parviflora is most likely to be an obligate inbreeder with a slight potential for outcrossing. The limited variation of M. parviflora enhances the likelihood of suitable control strategies being effective across a broad area.

Metabolic syndrome features small, apolipoprotein A-I-poor, triglyceride-rich HDL3 particles with defective anti-apoptotic activity

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) phenotype is typically characterized by visceral obesity, insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia involving hypertriglyceridemia and subnormal levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), oxidative stress and elevated cardiovascular risk. The potent antioxidative activity of small HDL3 is defective in MetS [Hansel B, et al. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:4963-71]. We evaluated the functional capacity of small HDL3 particles from MetS subjects to protect endothelial cells from apoptosis induced by mildly oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). MetS subjects presented an insulin-resistant obese phenotype, with hypertriglyceridemia, elevated apolipoprotein B and insulin levels, but subnormal HDL-C concentrations and chronic low grade inflammation (threefold elevation of C-reactive protein). When human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were incubated with oxLDL (200 jig apolipoprotein B/ml) in the presence or absence of control HDL subfiractions (25 mu g protein/ml), small, dense HDL3b and 3c significantly inhibited cellular annexin V binding and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. The potent anti-apoptotic activity of small HDL3c particles was reduced (-35%; p < 0.05) in MetS subjects (n = 16) relative to normolipidemic controls (n = 7). The attenuated anti-apoptotic activity of HDL3c correlated with abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia and systemic oxidative stress (p < 0.05), and was intimately associated with altered physicochemical properties of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I-poor HDL3c, involving core cholesteryl ester depletion and triglyceride enrichment. We conclude that in MetS, apoA-I-poor, small, dense HDL3c exert defective protection of endothelial cells from oxLDL-induced apoptosis, potentially reflecting functional anomalies intimately associated with abnormal neutral lipid core content. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Small airway remodeling in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a study in autopsy lung tissue

Introduction: Airway dysfunction in patients with the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is evidenced by expiratory flow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation. These functional alterations have been attributed to closure/obstruction of small airways. Airway morphological changes have been reported in experimental models of acute lung injury, characterized by epithelial necrosis and denudation in distal airways. To date, however, no study has focused on the morphological airway changes in lungs from human subjects with ARDS. The aim of this study is to evaluate structural and inflammatory changes in distal airways in ARDS patients. Methods: We retrospectively studied autopsy lung tissue from subjects who died with ARDS and from control subjects who died of non pulmonary causes. Using image analysis, we quantified the extension of epithelial changes (normal, abnormal and denudated epithelium expressed as percentages of the total epithelium length), bronchiolar inflammation, airway wall thickness, and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein content in distal airways. The Student`s t test or the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare data between the ARDS and control groups. Bonferroni adjustments were used for multiple tests. The association between morphological and clinical data was analyzed by Pearson rank test. Results: Thirty-one ARDS patients (A: PaO(2)/FiO(2) <= 200, 45 +/- 14 years, 16 males) and 11 controls (C:52 +/- 16 years, 7 males) were included in the study. ARDS airways showed a shorter extension of normal epithelium (A:32.9 +/- 27.2%, C:76.7 +/- 32.7%, P < 0.001), a larger extension of epithelium denudation (A:52.6 +/- 35.2%, C:21.8 +/- 32.1%, P < 0.01), increased airway inflammation (A:1(3), C:0(1), P = 0.03), higher airway wall thickness (A:138.7 +/- 54.3 mu m, C:86.4 +/- 33.3 mu m, P < 0.01), and higher airway content of collagen I, fibronectin, versican and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) compared to controls (P = 0.03). The extension of normal epithelium showed a positive correlation with PaO(2)/FiO(2) (r(2) = 0.34; P = 0.02) and a negative correlation with plateau pressure (r(2) = 0.27; P = 0.04). The extension of denuded epithelium showed a negative correlation with PaO(2)/FiO(2) (r(2) = 0.27; P = 0.04). Conclusions: Structural changes in small airways of patients with ARDS were characterized by epithelial denudation, inflammation and airway wall thickening with ECM remodeling. These changes are likely to contribute to functional airway changes in patients with ARDS.

Urodynamic evaluation of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and small prostate volume

Introduction: The relevance of prostate size in the pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is controversial. We evaluated the urodynamic findings in patients with LUTS and small prostate volumes. Materials and Methods: 84 patients aged >= 50 years with LUTS and prostates < 40 ml were evaluated. All had an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >= 8. Average age was 62.0 +/- 8.1 years. We evaluated the impact of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and detrusor overactivity (DO) on the voiding symptoms and urodynamic findings. Results: Mean prostate volume was 29.2 +/- 7.2 ml and mean IPSS was 13.5 +/- 4.6. BOO was the main finding, affecting 42 (50.0%) patients, followed by detrusor underactivity (DU) in 41 (48.8%) and DO in 28 (33.3%) patients. Patients without BOO were significantly older than the obstructed (64.0 +/- 8.8 and 60.1 +/- 6.9 years, respectively; p = 0.026) and had an increased prevalence of DU (76.2 and 21.4%, respectively; p < 0.001). Comparison of patients with and without DO showed reduced bladder capacity and compliance in the DO group (p < 0.001). No other comparisons were significant. Conclusion: Half of the patients with LUTS and small prostates are not obstructed and may have DO or decreased detrusor contractility as the basis for their voiding symptoms. Our results emphasize the value of urodynamics in this population, especially when invasive treatments are being considered. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The role of interleukin-6, endothelins, and apoptotic genes in small bowel transplantation, in a swine model of ischemia and reperfusion injury

IRI is closely related to sepsis in ITx setting. Complete understanding of the mechanisms involved in IRI development may improve outcomes. Ortothopic ITx without immunosuppression was performed in order to characterize IRI-associated mucosal damage. Twenty pigs underwent ITx. Two groups were assigned to different CI times: G1: 90 min and, G2: 180 min. Euro-Collins was used as preservation solution. Jejunal fragments were collected at donor laparotomy, 30 min, and 3 days after reperfusion. IRI assessment involved: histopathologic analysis, quantification of MPO-positive cells through immunohistochemical studies, quantification of epithelial apoptotic cells using TUNEL staining, and quantification of IL-6, ET-1, Bak, and Bcl-XL genes expression by RT-PCR. Neutrophilic infiltration increased in a similar fashion in both groups, but lasted longer in G2. Apoptosis detected by TUNEL staining increased and anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-XL expression decreased significantly in G1, 3 days after surgery. Endothelin-1 and IL-6 genes expression increased 30 min after the procedure and returned to baseline 3 days after surgery. In conclusion, IL-6 and ET-1 are involved precociously in the development of intestinal IRI. Apoptosis was more frequently detected in G1 grafts by TUNEL-staining and by RT-PCR.

Breast cancer five-year survival, by New South Wales regions, 1980 to 1991

Breast cancer five-year relative survival was calculated for 16 urban and rural regions in New South Wales (NSW) for cases incident in 1980-1991. Survival analysis employed cancer registry data linked with the death register, and age- and period-matched regional mortality of NSW women, Proportional hazard regression analysis was used to compare excess mortality in breast cancer cases in each region. The effect of region was significant (P < 0.05) in the analysis, after age and the follow-up variable (and their intel action) were adjusted for, although no region was significantly different from the referent group (chosen because of average relative five-year survival). When degree of spread and its interactions were entered into che model, the effect of region became nonsignificant. A significant linear trend (P < 0.05) in the adjusted relative risk for excess mortality in breast cancer cases was noted when regions were divided into quartiles based on socioeconomic status, with higher relative risk in low-socioeconomic-status groups; this effect also disappeared with adjustment for degree of spread at diagnosis. There was no general effect of rurality versus capital city or other metropolitan centres. This study demonstrates a small effect of region of residence and implied socioeconomic status on breast cancer survival in NSW women, but this becomes nonsignificant when the data are adjusted for degree of spread at diagnosis, This suggests that earlier diagnosis would he of benefit in reducing minor inequalities in breast cancer survival in NSW women.